Shoe-stretching device



July 9, 1929. A. KANELL sHoE STRETCHING DEvIcE Filed May 15, 1927 f I E: A N N in extending beyond the chamber 12, as

, tain ad'ji ltln'e'aded end oY eninO throue'lrthe rear j'ortion thereetI ."3 D

pronimates in shape the side oit the. wedgeshaped spreader 13. However, the recesses let are longer than the spreader' 13 so as to permit of movement of the spreader hack and forth therein. Each oil the recesses leal is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 which extends beyond such recesses toward the liront end o1" the toe-sections, the object ot these slots being to receive a longitufglinally and .entrally disposed guiding ledge 16 extending around the wedge-shaped spreader 13. Withthe toe-sections assembled in the position shown in Fig. 1, the recess 12 is therefore provided with opposite guideways or slots 15 carrying the ledge 16 ot the spreader 13 whereby such spreader is positively positioned and guided during its movement hack and forth in the spreader chamber 12, during the toe-stretching adjustment. The slots 15, iown in Fie. 1, provide an extended guide-way which guides the spreader 13 in its moven'ient beyond the chamber 12 tow l ards the iront eno ot the toe-unit during es. ended strett ino' ' Li adjustment. The means tor adjusting the spreader 13 and toe-sections will lire described later.

he heel or rear unit B is 'formed ot two sections 17 and 18, which are, preferably, lined togetherA by one or more screws 19. as

illustrated .in Fig. 2. rllhe rear end ot' thi, unit approximates the shape ot the heel et the shoe vwhile its front end is Ls-.sped as at 20, rlhe rear portionot the toeainit' has complementa-lly-shaped surface 21 whereby the units A and B may be moved and guided together and held in that position so as te vring the structure as a whole within small limits, which may be desirable in making ce1'- stments in certain sizes ot shoes as obvious.

' The interior ot the unitfB is provided with a` hollow portion adapted to Vreceive a screwadjusting nut 22 having side extensions carri-ed in the heel sections 17 and 13 to hold the same lined in place. A screw-rod 24 having a handle 25 is adapted to pass throiigh the nut 22 and extend through the heel unitl B and is connected to the spreader 13 as shown inFig. 2. The connection ot this rod 2e!- w'ith the y spreader 13 is accomplished by j'neviding such rrod with a reduced unportion 26 whichV passes through thev rear ot the spreader into an the end portion 2G being secured for rotation relative to the spreader by washer 2,7 which is locked in place by the screw 27a. By turning the handle 25 in a clockwise' direction, the spreader 13 is advanced in the chamber 12 to spread the sections 4 and 5, both laterallf7 and in a fan-like fashion and 'a reverse movement of the handle 25 withdraws such vspreader to permit the toe-sections to be moved together to the positionsh'own in Fig. 1.

The forward portion of the heel unil. All is provided with a rectangular-like recess 23 adapted to receive the rear portion oll the spreader 13 when the units A and li arc moved toward each other either with their complemental surfaces 2O and 21 together or in close proximity; otherwise, with the spreader 13 in a somewhat extended position, a movement o l. the units together might spread the sections e. and 5 to some degree which might not be desirable under certain conditions. ln such case the spreader is moved by the handle 25 as above described.

It is desirable that the units have an operative connection to facilitate handling` oil the same and to aid in their adjustment. l. prelieiably, accomplish this connection by means et' verti lally carried toggles 2S) and 3l) (Fig. l) formed of thin llcxible natal. These logglcs arecomprised or" arms 31v and 31" hinged to the respective toe-sections by the pins 31h. and arms 32 and 32 hinged to the heel-unit by the pins 32", the arms 3l and 31 and 32 and 32 being pivotally joined at 33 and $53" to complete l e toggle. ln order to accomplish the desired operation ot these to 'yles dni-ing the movements ot' the units A ai .l ll toward and from each other without intcrl'crcin'c. l mount the same in slots 3l in the rcspcwtive heel and toe sections, the lower part olf the arms ot the toggle being. pret-erably, pivol'ed at the bottom oit' these slots which extend and open through the upper part ol the respective sections. Still rurther, due to the i'act that the parts of these toggles are made ol thin, flexible material a .d they arc not joined together, they permit ot' the above descrilnal movements of the toe-sections .1 and 5 in a tree and flexible manner as the .spreader 13 is moved back and forth.

To accomplish the lengthwise :uljnslmcnt ot the stretching unit. l employ an operating unit comprised a` rack 35 and pinion 3o. the rack being connected to the toe-section l by the bracket'. member 37. 'lhc pinion 3o is carried on a sha "t 3S which is jonrnaled belwcen the heel unit sections 17 and 1S and (hc block 39 which carries the raclf 35. The sha lil liw is provided with an extension Al() havingl a handle l1 which is adapted to rotate the pinion 36 to move the rack ilorward or backward lo adjust the toe-unit likewise.

ln order to lock the rack 35 in its adjusted position and, consequently. the units` A and ll in their adjusted position, l provide a spring;- pressed latch member 4t2 adapted to engage in the notch-es L13 of the rack. ii. spring -l-l is mounted upon the rack bloc( 39 in such a way as to yieldingly hold the end 4t2 ol the latch outwardlv and its other end in yielding;- engagement with the registering notch Alil. As the handle il1 is moved to move the racks 35 back and forth. the latch 42 will yield sulliciently to permit their action. but. at other times, and when the. adjustment has been lill Cil

joined only by the tonele li il-S i and l es hereinabove described. Furthermore, es

Stated above thx rnl 35 tor ellctini;` the lengthvvise ndjnetn'ient ie connected to the toeeection l only so not to inter-:lere with the lateral n'iovelnent oi" the toe eectione and, if not otherwise provided 'loi'7 there would not be uniform, and desired einnil'mieone inovenient of the sections 4 and 5 during' the length- 'Wiee edjnstnient above described. To effect euch siinnlteneons :ind nnitorin movement oli these eectione during this sidjnetnientJn l infovide zi` follower device l5 which is rigidly cured to the section l :ind which entends leterally across und behind the other toe-section 5. 1t is ohvione that ne the rock 35 is* inoved lorwfiidly 'for lengthwi L; adjustment, the toc-eectione, which ore preclflnlly fleeting; eectione, nro niovod 'lorvnndly simultaneonely.

rlhere may be Sonie instances Where it ie desired to Stretch shoes which ere o'li excej)- tional length. In that cesse, in order to cure the nll benefit of stretching' edjnetniente, l employ en extension device l preliereihly1 ol' the construction shot-vn in B. lhie extension piece has e curved 'lace lo adopted to lit over the roer of: the heel B, ne shown in Figi. 27 and e rear portion e6" opnroxiineteljv the Shane oit the heel ot the Shoe. lThe part 46 very elliciently Serves ne e heel nnit extension menne in e niennei' shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines.

ft believed that the operzition ol thin structure is obvione i'roin the oreg'oinir and it iney be Stated generally ne tollm e: When it ie deeired to etretch the toe of the :shoen the toe unit i ineerted in that portion oil the ehoe to the deeired extent and the handle Q5 then turned in :i cloeluviee iilirectioi'i. l`hie :lotion nieves the epreodinf 'i3 liorwnrdlyo sind, in :in obvione4 mennen censos; the ejnendino; :ind llnrin action to tolte plece betnf'een the eeetione el- :nid lo on extent dependent on the extent of move-nien t of the hn :idle ln order to ineke the lengthwise stretching; edjnetmentg the entire structure is inserted in the shoe With the heel portion resting eggeinet the heel ol: the shoe on the interior :ind the toe unit extending' into the toe ol'x the Shoe. The Structure may be first preliminerily ndjueted lo the Size o'l' the pinticnler elmo which ie to be stretohec. Alter the parte have been eo inserted, the handle Lill is tnrned in e, clockvviee direction and the unite f1.1 and l eenzii'eteo. This action inny take plfice to n desired extent dependent upon 'the extent of movement of the handle lt the Seine time, if a toe-stretching fiction in e leterol direction if; desired, the hzindle 25 inzly oleo he ino'ved and the double adjustment eccompliehed eiinnltnneonely.

Freni the foregoing it ifi; obvious than; l have produced o highly ellicicnl? dnrehle, und positiv'ely-:zcliii'igl Shoe-stretching om :tratos V.vhich ne n who-le ie very flexible and eaey to operate. Although. ll have shown only one .specific lio in of iny invention7 it Will be understood that fn-rione chei'igl'es and inedilicetions may be resorted to Without deporting;` troni the spirit sind Scope of my inventii'in es delined by the following cleinis.

l clniin:

l. ln n Shoe-stretcher, e toeetretching unit coinprieingg tivo iniited sections approximating;l the :shape ot the Jfoe ol the ehoeA` euchv Seid Section l'ievii'ig` n, recess in its forward end to lorin :in interior r',nvity in. the oined sections, n` toggle coin'iected to the eectione and carried in Seid cavity end formino' the sole connection between Said eectione7 enel seid section lowing; another reces 'formed in itsl end oojjioeite smid tiret recess and liorniinjjg :in iin-- terior Wedgeeheped cavity in the joined ,feeiionen gnideivoys in the welle ol Seid letter cavity end extending4 'forvnrdly beyond the seine, :i n'cdge-elnipcd ineniber in Seid letter cevity ond having n peripheral flange carried in seid iliid@Ways9 and n enne for inevingjT seid ineinber forwardly in seid letter nvity to seperate seid sections and flare their rein? ende.

2. ln n` shoe-stretcher e toe-stretching nnit iinprieing two ineted eoctione ejjiproxinint in@l the ehejgie ot the toe eli the Shoe, :in enclosed to?;,le connected to one end oit said eectione und :forming4 their eole corniection` n Wedge ineniber 'orr'ied in. n 'nfvity et the other end oli mid .f-aectonea lguide nnone oxteniline through, und beyond Seid cavity for millingy seid nieniblmv ond ineens lor moving; seid ineniher lfomvvrdiv in end beyond will letter cevity to eejinzile seid sections :and llore their reni' ende.

il. ln e shoe-etrotchen n too-etretching;v unit eonijn'ieed of two sections connected'by n horizontally diepen/ed toggle, n heel nnitj o vertically dienoeed toggle connecting erich of .reid oectione lo eziid heel unit., Seid ,lutter togglee being; einnjn'ised oli flexible metall nienibere, o ejjn'ending nniniber adopted to he Inoved between seid eectioiie on adjusting screw attached to Seid nieniher and carried by said heel unit lor nioifinn; Seid ineinoei" to adjust seid sections lfxterelly :incl in 'tainlilice lesbien., ineens carried by sei d heel nnit and connec x'l to eniid toe-Stretching; unit toi: adjusting Seid letter unit longritndinelly, el d o letch for locking' eeid Units in their longitudinally edjiiieted position,

-l. ln n. Shoe-Stretcher, n toestretching unit rf'on'ijinfieefl olf tivo eectione connected by :i horizontelly disposed toggle, n heel unit, e

vertically diepoeed toggle connecting euch liz lll() Cil t ad

etiens to said heel unit, said latter nb''i-l eing comprised et tlefible metal members, a spreading member adapted to be moved between said sect-ions, au adjusting screnP attached to said member and carried by said heel unit tor movin? said member to ad just said sections laterally and in fan-like i'ashion, a rack and pinion carried by said heel unit ant. connected to said toe-stretching unit tor adjusting said latter unit longitudinally, means for controlling' the movement ot said rack and pinion, and a latch for engaging' said rack to lock said units in their longitudinally `adjusted position.

In a shoe-stretcher, a unit comprised of f tivo separable sections, connected at their torward ends by ay hidden and horizontal toggle, said sections being formed to provide a k.vedgti-shaped chamber between the same, a spreading member movable back and forth in said chamber, a heel unit, said sect-ions and heel unit hyinfij finned vertical slots, vertical toggles formed ot thin and iiexible metall members, mounted `in said slots and =,.onn.ectinfg said sections separately to said heel unit, means carried by said heel unit, tor adjusting` said spreading' member in said chamber, means adjust-able longitudinally also carried by said heel unit and connected to one only ot said sections, and means carried byl said last section and extending` behind the other .section Jfor y eiiecting simultaneous movement of said sections as said longitudinally adjusted means is operated.

6. In a shoe-stretcher, a unit comprised et two separable sections connected at their tor- Y Ward ends by a hidden and horizontal toggle,

said sections Vbeing` formed to pro'i'ide a Wedge-shaped chamber between the same,- a spreading member movable back and forth in said chamber. a heel unit, said sections and heel unit having` aligned vertical slots, vertical. toggles formed oit thin and tleXible metal members mounted in said slots and connecti12-4 Said sections separately to said heel unit, a men'ibei carried by said heel unit and conected-to said spreading member for adjusting the same in said chamber, a rack and pinion construction carried by said heel unit and eonnected'to only one oif said sections, and a Yfollower member carried by said lat-ter sectionane extending` behind the other sections for effecting simultaneous movement-of said sections as said rack and pinion is operated.

7. In a shoe-stretching device, a toestretching unit comprised of separable sections, a heel unit, and a toggle connected to each oil1 iid sections, and separately connected to said heel unit, said tonfgles being` formed ot tiexible metal members adapted to iler; and permit ready and easy bodily and fan-like separation of said sections.

8. In a shoe-stretching device, a toestretching` unit comprised ot separable sections joined at one end only by a horizontal anelli-sed tonele, a heel unit, and a vertical toggle connected to each of said sections and separately connected to said heel unit, said toggles being operable in slots in the rcspective sections a Ad heel unit portions and 'formed lleii le n'ietal members adapted to flex and permit ready and easy bodily and fan-like separation of said sections.

9. In a shoestretcher, a toesstretclxinel unit comprised of We sections separable bodily in a lateral direction and pivotally in tan-lilie fashion, a heel unit, and togglcs connecting said sections to said heel unit, said toggles befoi'med 'fle.\'il. le members lo rca/.lily permit said lateral and flaring movements.

ll). In a shoe-stretcher, a toe-stretclling;` unit comprised of two sections separable laterally and longitudinally, a heel unit, means carried by said heel unit and cooperating with said sictions to effect said lateral separation, means carried by said heel unit and connecte-d to one ot' said sections for elif-celiner longitudinal movement el said toe-unit. and means carried by said latter section and cngnpiug the rear ot the other section to eilect simultaneous longitudinal movement of said sections.

1l. In a shoe-stretcher. a toe-strelclliu;r unit comprised oi. tivo sections separable lalcrally and longitudinally, a heel unit. an adjusting' member carried by said heel unit and cooperating with a device for etl'ectinn said lateral separation, a rack and pinion carried by said. heel unit and connected to one of said sect-ions' for positively eilectiner longitudinal movement ot said toe unit section, and means carried by said latter section and engaging the other section to etliect simultaneous longitudinal movement' of both said sections.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribe( my name.

ANDREIV KANELL.

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